What should you say in PTE Describe Image?

Describe the image in front of you: identify its subject, select important features and explain a meaningful relationship between them. A relevant comparison is more useful than a memorised introduction followed by disconnected numbers.

For PTE Academic Describe Image, Pearson currently gives 25 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to speak. Check the official Speaking and Writing format for current instructions. The routine below is a teaching suggestion, not an official template or a score guarantee.

Use preparation time to notice, not write a script

Start with the title, labels and units. A chart showing percentages should not be described as a count of people. A chart with no time axis does not automatically show growth or decline.

Next identify the most noticeable relationship: the largest and smallest categories, a broad trend or a clear difference. Select a few supporting details that you can explain accurately. Trying to write every sentence during preparation can leave you with unfinished notes rather than a clear plan.

Keep your notes compact: “topic → main comparison → evidence.” This is a planning reminder, not wording you must repeat in the test.

Practise with this original data example

The fictional information below is for practice only. It is not an official PTE question, a recalled exam item or real research.

Practice visual: Imagine a bar chart titled “Preferred study location among 100 learners,” with the vertical axis labelled “Number of learners.” The bars show:

• Home: 45 learners
• Library: 35 learners
• Campus study room: 20 learners

Possible spoken description: “The bar chart compares the preferred study locations of one hundred learners. Home is the most popular option, selected by forty-five learners, followed by the library with thirty-five. The campus study room is the least popular, at twenty. Home is chosen by ten more learners than the library, while the library has fifteen more than the study room. Overall, the preferences are uneven, with home attracting the largest group.”

This is one practice response, not an officially scored answer. Record your own version and check whether it fits comfortably within the task time at a natural pace. You do not need to copy these sentences exactly.

Explain what the visual supports

The example supports a comparison of preferences. It does not tell us why learners chose home, whether studying at home produces better results or how preferences changed over time. Avoid adding those claims.

If you mention a difference, calculate it carefully: 45 minus 35 is 10 learners. Do not describe a difference in learner counts as “ten percentage points” unless the visual actually presents percentages and the comparison is appropriate.

With a photograph or process diagram, adapt your response to what is visible rather than forcing a highest-and-lowest structure. Describe the main elements, their arrangement or the sequence shown. Do not invent a cause, location or extra stage.

Review one recording before doing another

Listen back once for content and once for delivery. For content, check the subject, units, important comparison and factual accuracy. For delivery, notice unclear words, long pauses and places where you rushed.

Then repeat the same visual with one improvement goal, such as giving the overall comparison earlier. Practising a correction is more useful than collecting recordings without reviewing them. Speak clearly at a manageable pace rather than trying to sound fast.

Frequently asked questions

Must I describe every number?

Prioritise the important features and relationships. Listing every value can make your description hard to follow and leave little time to explain the main point.

Should I memorise a fixed answer?

No fixed answer can accurately describe every image. Practise a flexible planning process and use language that matches the specific visual.

Can this example predict my PTE score?

No. It is an original learning exercise, not an official scoring tool. Use feedback to identify improvements rather than treating one recording as a score prediction.

Ask about PTE practice in Zirakpur

Explore PTE coaching in Zirakpur and ask about current batches, demo availability and practice feedback. Bring a recording and explain which part you find difficult.

Continue with our PTE Read Aloud pause guide and Summarize Written Text practice to build a balanced routine.

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